The Twitter Bug

[vovat]

You know, I hadn't even heard of Twitter until 3x1minus1 mentioned it, but I've seen it mentioned quite a bit lately, often in a negative context. I was a bit apprehensive about it at first, what with the word limit and all. I have, as you may have noticed, a bit of a tendency toward verbosity. But I've since found it a useful repository for the thoughts

Comments

[vilajunkie]

Twitter and LJ are what you make them to be. No need to completely conform to the website's self-image.

[vovat]

Definitely, although I have to wonder if some people are turned off by the self-images.

Do you have a Twitter account, by the way?

[vilajunkie]

Nope, I don't use Twitter. Never really saw the point.

[bluesilverkdg]

I still haven't totally figured out what it is, how to use it or what it's for. And I think I've got enough online shenanigans to keep me occupied, so one more would just be useless.

I think I've found that I largely use my LJ as an amateure op-ed column, too. I used to post deeper, more meaningful entries, but lately, it's mostly just what I'm grouching about at the moment. :-)

[vovat]

Twitter is basically just a place to write thoughts of 140 characters or less, but in my own experience, it's been more fun than that description sounds. {g} I think it's often a better way to get to know how people's minds work than LJ.

[rockinlibrarian]

I don't understand Twitter. I actually get the POINT of it-- like you said, the idea of posting little random snippets of thought throughout the day (I have plenty of those myself); I just don't get the PRACTICALITY of it. Are these posts made on the computer/through text messaging/both/other? I suppose those things are handy for people who a)work at a computer all day, or b) have unlimited texting on their phones, or c) whatever, but that would not fit into MY lifestyle at ALL. I suppose if I wanted to collect all my random postable thoughts throughout the day, I'd be best off jotting them in a notebook and then transcribing them onto lj each evening after Sam goes to bed. Might be an interesting writing exercise, anyway.

[zimbra1006]

I am likewise confused by Twitter. Also most people's tweets (? twits?) are just responses to other people's (that I haven't read) and that confuses me more! I assume one day I'll cave, just like I did to all other social networking sites, but for now I'm holding out! :P

[vovat]

I think there's actually an option on the LJ client to remove all the tweets (and yes, that is the official term, even though the site isn't called "Tweeter") that are replies to other people. Personally, I think it would be better if they were to provide links to whatever people were responding to, but I guess that would take a little more doing.

[rockinlibrarian]

I'd be satisfied if it linked to actual web addresses instead of all those "tiny url" things-- I don't like clicking on links that I can't see what sort of website they go to!

To be blunt,

[kristenjarrod]

I think Twitter is annoying as shit.

Maybe because I sometimes sit at a table with these girls sometimes who get the tweets sent to their phone, and that's what they do all of dinner, read tweets, and talk about Twitter.

I also feel like I'm getting too old to start yet another social network, that nobody will talk to me on, even if they add me as a friend or whatever, and then months later they'll be a bitch and remove me from their friends list.

Re: To be blunt,

[3x1minus1]

that's unfortunate you think that.

too old? if anything twitter is for adults.

Re: To be blunt,

[bethje]

I'd follow you.

It's really much the same as the wall on facebook.

Re: To be blunt,

[3x1minus1]

but with more funny celebrities.

[3x1minus1]

twitter is the best. one reason i like the 140 character limit is that it weeds out all the noise & obnoxiousness of other 'social networks.'

i agree with what you said about how it's a better way to get to know how people's minds work.

i've made some friends on twitter i never would have met otherwise.

the criticisms from people who don't "get" it because they're unfamiliar with it piss me off. it's like an old person complaining about moving pictures. or whatever.

[bethje]

I agree. I also think like twitter, because it makes me feel closer to friends, you know?

[3x1minus1]

totally. it's all about the little things. ^_^

[vovat]

twitter is the best. one reason i like the 140 character limit is that it weeds out all the noise & obnoxiousness of other 'social networks.'

True, although I've been guilty of expanding one thought over multiple tweets, and I know other people have as well. I think it's definitely more direct than something like Facebook or MySpace, though.

it's like an old person complaining about moving pictures. or whatever.

Did you know they have HORSELESS carriages now? In my day, we had to clean up horseshit on the roads, and we LIKED it!